Airship.



E. s. THVIMONS.

AIRSHIP.

APPLICATION man JUNE 12, 11911.

Patented J 11116 29, 1915.

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AmsHlP. Q 'APPLICATION FILED JUNE l2. |911.

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AIRSHIP. l l I. APPLICATION FILED JUNE I2, IeII. I Y 3 4495700 Paten-ted June 29, 1915.`

B SHEETS-SHEET E. S. TIMMONS.

AIHSHIP.

. v AFLICTIDN FILED .iUNE I2 191|.

Patented June 29, 1915.

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E. S. TIMMONS.

AAIRSHIP.

APPLICATloN HLED 1uNE12. 1911.

Patented June 29, 1915.

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Junin 's ne ritrareration EDWIN s. Tini/ions, or cnroaedntnvois.

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Specification of Letters Patent. Patcilcd Juil@ 29, 1915.

Applicatiomled June 12, 1911. Serial No. 632,548,

T a all whom it may concern.'

Be it known vthat I, Enwivl YS. TiMMoNs,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county oCoolr and State of Illinois, have invented a new and' useful Improvement in Air-ships, of which the fol`A lowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in air-ships ofthe heavier-than-air type; and my objects, generally stated, are to provide a construction of air-ship of the type referred to by whichl ships of relatively large proportions, with their supporting planes bearing an equal, or substantially equal,

. ratio tothe increase in weight ofthe structure without impairingfits stability, may be provided; to provide a construction in which the various elements thereof, such as the carrier, main planes, balancing planes, guiding planes, engine-propellers,

in a manner to render them stable and capa- .ble of resisting to the desiredv degree the stress and strains to which they are subi jected in use, and to so arrange the support-v ing planes with relation to the propeller or propellers as to cause the latter, when the ship is in flight, to operate against a ield of air in' normal condition, as distinguished from the swirling, eddying currents of air artificially produced by planes, engines,

. carsaiid operators over, under or in front of the propellers as is commonly the case in air-ships as' hitherto provided; and to avoid the discharge of the air, displaced byy the propeller, against the main planes, cars, engines or operators, with consequent production of head resistance to the moi-'ement of the plane, as is the case with the present type of aeioplanes wherein the .propeller is in .front of the plane or lanes; tol so arrange the elements of the s ip-.structure that the vertical rudders thereof will have an augmented grip on the air and thus serve to render the ship very sensitive, or responsive, to the helm, and minimize danger of skidding of the ship when turning, and, furthermore, in this connection, to provide for the turning of the ship by rudders at bot its front and rear ends to permit of the effecting of rapid and accurate turning of 'the ship.; to provide the various elements of the-ship, such as the main planes, balancing.

and steering planes and the propeller enveloping structures of such form as to perniitthem to be constructed from the miniand other elements, may be mounted on theship mum amountof material and still possess the desired rigidity of structure required to render them resistant to the strains to which they are subjected in use; to provide horizontal rudders on the ship and operating means therefor by which they may be set to extend either in the lsaine or opposite directions as desired and propellers which may be set at diii'erent angles relative to the car., whereby by manipulating the planes and the propellers the .head resistance ot- 4fered to the air by these rudders and the the ship from responding quickly to'forccs tending to destroy the equilibriumv thereof, thereby augmenting the stability of the ship in the air; to provide a. rigid construction o`f car; to provide means on the ship which will operate to prevent impairment tothe latter and minimize discomfort to the occupants of the ship when the latter Vis brought to the ground; and to provide an arrangement ot car and propellers therefor whereby the minimum amount' ofresista-nce is offered to the car when the ship is in light. v

My invention is illustrated in the accoi'npanving drawings, in which--l Figure 1 is a. plan view of an air-ship constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken at the line 2 on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrow. lFig. 3 is an enlarged section taken at` the line 8 on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 4 is an enlarged, broken, view showing one of the plurality of combined caster-wheel and skid-devices with which theship' is equipped. Fig. 5 is a view in front elevation of the construction shown in Fig.' 4.

"Fig 6 is an enlarged section taken at the line 6 on Fig. 4 and viewed in the direction of the arrow., Fig, 7 is an enlarged, perspective, view of the frame-work of the car as I prefer to provide it.' Fig. 8 is a plan vice'which may be interposed in each of the' Citi beine" a car such as that represent d l D 7 n view of one end ot the frame-work of the Vcar showing how it is connected to one ot the struts ot the ship, this view being taken substantially along the line 3- on li1 ig.` Y. F ig. 9 is a section taken at the line 9 on li1 ig. l and viewed in the direction ot the arrow; F ig. l is a plan view of a portion or the car and the propellers connected therewith, a portion ot the top ot the car being removed. ll is a plan view' of one of the pair ot mainplanes employed, portion ot the covering ot the upper side of the plane beingremoved. Fig. l2 is a section talrenat the line l2 on ll and viewed inthe direc'tion of the arrow'. 13 is a view in elevation ot a construction of tensioning; de-

wires operating as braces for the construe tion. horizontal rudder-plane, with certain portions thereof shown in section, the better to disclose the manner of pivoting it on the trame of the ship. .ll ig. l5 is av view in elevation of one of the four similar vertical rudder-planes employed. lig. .16 isa view,- in the nature of a diagram, ot the propelleis and their enveloping trames showing the manner of operating the frames to set the propellers. F ig. l? is a plan viert ot a section of the outer ring of the main structure of the ship, showing the manner ot coupling .together the sections forming this ring.

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a leverdevice through the medium of which `the balancing planes at opposite' sides ot the ship are Joperaled either in unison or independently ot each other. lig. 19 is a perspective'view ot the ship, in the nature ot a diagram, showing the arrangement by which the balancing planes at opposite sides ci? the ship may be operated. Fig. QOis a view in sidev elevation, in the nature ot ay diagram, showing the mechanism tor controlling the tilting of the front and rear balancing planes, or horizontal rudders, either in unison or independently oi' each other. Fig. 2l is a view in side elevation of the operating levers for the cables shown in 20 tor controlling the tilting ot the front and rear horizontal planes; and'lig. 2Q, a plan view,

in the nature ci a diagram, ot the vertical rudders and means `lior controlling 'the si "mul taneous operation thereof.

The main traine ot the ship and that which affords the stability required, coinprises an outer endless member 25, preterably in the form oth a ring', formed ott wood, steel tubing or of any other suitable ma.- terial formed preferably oi: sections 26, which are united together at their abutting ends by coupling devices 27; an inner annular vseries of vertically-disposed struts 28 'which are spaced apart; a carrier arranged axially of the ring and Aby p 'ef Fig. ,il is a plan view of the rear which. is constructed in a manner herein a lter' described, and tensioning members, l preferably wires, some ci' which connect with the member 29 at a. point central ot the ring 25, andavith the upper and lower ends of the struts 23 and the ring 95 at ditferent points about the circumference of the latter, and others ot which connect together' adjacent struts 28..

in the particular arrangement shown, the car 29 is provided at its top and bottom with rings 30 and 3l to which wires 32, 33 and 332L are respectively connected at 'their inner ends, the wires 32 being connected with the upper ends ot the struts'QS and the wir@ 33 and 33a being connected with the lower ends of these struts,`\.vhich latter are, preferably, of: considerably greater height than the distance between the'rings 30 and 3l. From both .the upper'and lower ends of the struts 28 `Wires 3d entend to the ring 25 to which latter they are secured. The struts 28 are connected together by wires 23a which eX- .tend diagonally in opposite directions from the top and bottoni vot each strut 28 to the adjacent struts 28, and by wires 23h and2r' connecting these struts together at their upper and lower ends.v respectively, as represented in the drawings. Each one ot the `wires 28a, 28h, 28, 39, 33, 33L and 34, as well as all of the other wires employed in my improved construction and hereinafter re ferr'ed to, is provided with a tensioning device, such as the turnbuckle represented at" 35,- tor placing all of the wires under the desiredjtension for rendering the structure, which in its nature closely resembles a wirespoke Wheel, rigid and in trued condition.

The car represented at 29 may be of any desirable construction. lltis preferred, however, that it be pointed at its opposite endsA as indicated in the drawings fand that it be 4constructed with trame-work as illustrated inhig. and hereinafter described and supported from diametrically-opposed struts 23. V

The construction et car shown in llig. 7

.comprises a series of rectangular. shaped and ll, these cablesconverging at their opposite ends and being connected with` upper and lower ends of posts l5, these ca bles extending beyond the postsand being connected-with turnbuclrles tl carried by diametricall'y-opposed struts whereby upon tightening 'these turn-buckles, the ca bles 41 to 4l inclusivemay be placed under the desired tension for rendering the structure rigid, the rigidity afforded by the cables last referred to being augmented by a net work of wires which extend, at angles to the cables 41, 12, 43 and 44, and connect with diagonally-opposed corners of the trames, and cross-Wires extending' about the top,- sides and bottom of the car-structure as represented. The frame-work of the car thus provided may be covered with any suitable material 292L for inclosing the car, as for instance fabric, light metal, wood or any other suitable' material, and a fiooring, (not shown) may be secured to the bottom niembers of the fra-Ines 36 and 3S.

In the construction illustrated, I provide a vpair of sustaining planes 47 which, by preerence,are carried by those of the diametrically-opposed struts 2S which are directly at opposite sides of the car 29 as illustrated in Fig. 1. Each of these planes is preferably formed of a series of concentric rings 48 spaced apart and made of wood or any other suitable material, these rings being connected together by crossbraces 4-9 as illustratedv in Fig. 11. The rings 4S are arranged concentrically ofthe struts 2S which they surround and have secured tothem at-preferably equal distances about t-heir eircuniferences radiating Wires 50` some of which extend upwardly and others downwardly to collars 51 on the surrounded struts 28, these collars being provided preferably at the topiand bottom of the struts and of la number corresponding to the number of rings, whereby the Wires radiating from these sleeves to the rings do Ynot in any way interfere with each other. ,Thefraines ofthe planes 47, thus provided, are covered both on their upper and lower y sides with any suitable material, such as fabric, as indicated at 52 and 53, respectively, it being desired that the vspaces afforded between the rings,V braces and the coverings and 53 be iilled with any suitable, relatively light. material 54'. such as corlr, for stitlening the surfaces ot the 4planes and preventing hellying'thereof, and where the material. 54 is lighter than water, prevent sinking of the ship in the llatter in case of acccident; The wires connecting the rings 48 with the struts28 as stated, in practice, would: each. be provided with a tensioning device, such as that represented at 35, and the several wires connecting these rings with the struts would be tensioned to such respective degrees as would cause -the planes 4:7 te extend downwardly at a slight angle from front to' rear as represented in Fig. 12 for a purpose well known in the art.

Located between the main planes 47 and the opposing portions of the ring Q5 are horizontally-disposed balancing planes which are of circular shape as represented in Fig. 1 and of the same construction as the planes 47, excepting that instead oi supporting the rings forming the main framework of the planes 55 from certain of the non-movable struts 2S as explained of the planes 4:7, these rings are supported by wires 56 radiating from the upper and lower ends ofmovable struts 57, the planes 55 being pivotally connected to the outer rings 48 and with the adjacent portions of the ring 25 at points in alinernent with the struts supporting the planes 47, as indicated at 5S and 59, respectively (Fig. 2), to permit thel planes 55 to be tiltedon an, aXis transverse to the line of flight of the ma.- chine. f The planes thus provided at each side of the machineand beyondv the main planes 47 are thus tree to be turned upon their pivots 58 and` 59 for setting them at any desired angle relative to the car, desirable mechanism for accomplishing this purpose being hereinafter described.

At the front and rear of the ship, I provide horizontally-disposed planes 60 and 61, which, inv eiect, operate as rudders for controlling the raising and lowering of the ship. The planes 60 and 61, which Vare alike in construction and so far as their framework' and covering therefor are concerned are identical with the planes 55, are carried directly by the ring 25 which extends across these planes and carries opposed sleeves 62v rigidly secured tothe ring 25 and affording bearings for sleeve-,members 63 carriedby the frame-workl 'of the planes 60 and 61, as clearly represented in Fig. 14, it being preferred that the connections of these planes with the ring 25 be forward of the center of these planes, whereby there is a tendency of the planes, unless restrained, to swing to a position in which they presentmerely edgewi`se resistance to the air.

At opposite sides of the car 29 and adja cent to its forward and rear ends, I provide front and rear vertical rudders 64 and (S5, respectively, these -rudders`, by preference, being located in line with the space between the car and the main planes 47, and pivoted upon certain of the -struts 28as represented. in Fig. 1.. The rudders 6-1 and 65, so tar as their construction is concerned, are identical with the planes 60 and 61, and are piv oted to the struts 2S forward of their centers as illustrated in Fig. 15, whereby the 4tendency of these rudders is to'normally present edgewise resistance' only .to the air, though it will be understood that when they are turned on their supports, by mechanism hereinafter described` to cause them to eX- tend at an angle to the path through which the ship nieves, they will operate to cause the sli-.ip to be deflected in its course.

The propellers for driving the ship are illustrated at fili, these propellers being located at opposite sides of the car 29 andnin IGO the spaces loe'tvveen the latter and the niain planes i-7. ln the arrangement shown, the propellers are provided with sleeve-entensions 67 carrying sprockets` 68, the propellers` losing journaled on non-rotary shatts 69 1 hetWeen spaced' collars 7 0 on the latter, as represented in llig. 10. The shafts are axially and rigidly connected, through the inediurn of radiating Wires 69a, Vwith rings 71 which surround the respective shafts 69 and are pivoted at opposite sides, as indicated at 72 and 78, to the outer rings i8 ot the adjacent planes t7 and hearing inernhers 73 on the car 29, respectively, vvheehfy the rings 71 and the parts carried thereby may he turned relative to the planes t7 and the car to set the propellers at any desired angle 'With relation to these planes. rthe propel- 'lers may he driven in any suitalole manner as through the medium of sprocket-chains 74% Which engage With'the sprockets 58 0n the propellers and with sprockets 7 5 secured to theseparate' drive-shafts 76 of the en-` ginesv77 located in the car and olf any desirable construction, the engines, in the arrangement shown, operating to drive the propellers in opposite directions.

As is usual in air-ship constructions et thistype, rolling supports are provided `for 'permitting the ship to run along the ground loefore rising,r and'after descending, iny iniprovedconstruction in this respect affording, in combination with Wheels, skidding devices 'for reducingl the strain upon the Wheels `and augmenting the stopping ofthe ship -When in engagement with the ground; My improved Wheel-supports for the airlship comprise a plurality of Wheels 78 jouri naled in forked members 79, provided With curved extensions 80 and pivoted interinediatetheir ends to studs 81 projecting laterally from sleeve-members 82 plvoted between collars 83 on the lower ends et certain of the struts 28, it being preferred that one'of such Wheel-devices he provided on 'the strutto which the rear end ot the car is'secured and tivo of these Wheel-devices he provided at the front end of, the ship on the struts nent adjacent to the strut to which vthe iront end of the car is attached. The levers 79 are connected at their upper ends With the lower ends or'- coiled springs 84% secured at their upper ends to rigid collars 89' rigid on the struts Z8 carrying these levers, as illustrated in Fig'. a', the tension ot the springs 84 being such as to cause the levers 79 tohe held in a position in which the Wheels 78 only contact with the ground when the ship is at rest or moving1 over the ground under normal conditions, hut pery init the Wheels 8 to he deflected to the position illustrated hy dotted lines innig'. d, in which the slndding extensions 89 ci the lever 79 are 'moved to a position for engaging With the ground, when the ship is mov ingn over rough ground or violently the ground in descendine'.,

and to effect rise and descent or they ship on even heel, as Well as to steer `the ship for causingf it to tollmv4 desired course, and to this end l provide ineens 'whereby these planes and rudders may he controlled hy an operator, or operators, in the car, the tolloafing being' a descrip'on oit inea-ns which may he employed for this purpose: Reiterto the matter of' the ontrol of the planes and 6l, l provide adjacent to the seat for the operator,` as for instance that represented at 86, pair of levers '87 and 88, theseA levers lacing ulcrumed intermediate their ends as represented at89 and 90 rem spectively.. 'the lever 87 is connected above ,and -helow itsiulcruin 89 to Wires 91 and 92 which extend to the upper and lower ends respectively ol the strut 93 ot the plane 60; and the lever 88 is connected alcove and helovv its fulcrum 9 0 with vvires 94; and 95 which connect With the vupper and lower ends, respectively, of the strut 98 ot the plane '61,` the Wires 94 and 95 -passingover pulleys 97 secured at any desired points on the car. Pivotcdto the'lever 87 as indicated at 98, is a connecting har 99, which is 'adapted' to he releasahly connected With the lever 88 either above or helovv itsv tulcrum or disconnected therefrom as desired.

this arrangement, the operator, assum-v through the medium of the har 99, the planes 60 and 61 may he caused to turn in the saine direction or in the opposite direction when either one of the' levers 87 or 88 are operated, depending; on Whether the har 99 is connected with the lever 88 above or 4helen7 the fulc'rurn 90, as Willloe manifest,

lineans for controlling' the setting or the planes 5.5 comprises a post 190 secured to the car in iront ci" the seat 86 and 'supporting oppositely-errt'einling1 horizontally disposed rneinloers 101 and 109, each or which is independently hinged tothe post 100, as represented in liigg;e 18, vvherehy they may he roclredupon the post indenendently or each other,` though tney may he releasahly connected together as desired, tor perinittinpl to swing upon the .post 109 as a unit, through the inediuin o' a har 103 pivoted, es indicatedrat lt, to the rnen'iher t191 and adapted to enter heneath a clip secured on the nieinher 199.

gen

A the member 101.

and 107 which pass over pulleys 108 and 109` on the car, the cable 106 thence passing over a pulley 110 on the ring 25 to the upperend of the strut 111 of the plane 55 at the rightf hand side of the machine to which it is se cured, lthis cable thence passing around a pulley 112 on the ring 25 and about pulleys 113 and 114 on the car, .from Which this cable extends and connects with the end of y The cable 107 extends from the pulley 109 to a pulley 115 on lthe car and thence to a pulley 11G on the ringA 25, from which pulley this cable extends to the'lower end of the'strut 111 of the plane 55 at the-right-hand side of the machine, andto which it is secured, this cable thence passing around a pulley 117 on the ring 25 and a pulley 11S on the car from Which last-named pulley the cable extends to the Amember 101 to which it is connected. The

' member 102 is connected' up with the-plane 55 at the lleft-hand side of the machine through the medium of cables 119 and 120 which pass over pulleys on the car and rmg 25 and connect with the hub-section 121 of this plane 55 for connecting it With the member 102 as described of the wires 106 and 107.

VIt Will thus be understood that, assuming the connector 1,03 to be out of engagement with the clip 105,-the operator, by rocking either one of the members 101 and 102, may cause the respective planes 55 controlled thereby to be tilted in either direction as detrolled thereby Will be swung upon their pivots in opposite directions.

The mechanism for controlling the turning of the rudders 64 and 65 comprises a foot-lever 122 pivoted, as indicated at 123, to the car forwardof, and adjacent' to, the seat 3G, (it being desired that this lever be operated by the foot of the operator) cables 124 and 125 Which are connected to the opposite ends of the lever 122 and extend over pulleys 126 and 127 to the rudder G4 at the left-hand side of the machine, these cables being connected with the frame-Work of this rudder and at opposite sides of the strut 2S on which this plane is pivoted; cables 128 and 129 which are connected With the left and right-hand ends, respectively of the lewver 122 and extend over pulleys 130 and 131 upper end of which it is connected.

vrespectively ofthe lever and extend rearwardly to pulleys 134 and 135, respectively, on the car and thence to the plane 65 at the left-hand side of the ship to opposite sides of which' these cables are connected as eX- plained of the cables controlling the rudders 64; and cables 136 and 137 which connect, respectively, with the left and right hand ends of the lever 122 and pass over pulleys 13S and 139 respectively and connect with the frame-Work of the rudder 65 at the right-hand side of the machine, at opposite sides of the strut 28 to which it is pivoted, as described of the rudder 64. By providing the cable connections ,between the rudders 64 and 65 and the lever 122 described, the turning of this lever upon its fulcrum simultaneously turns all of the rudders 64 and 65, the rudders 65 turning in the opposite direction to that in which the rudders 64 turn, whereby these rudders supplement each other in performing the function fof steering the ship.

As hereinbefore stated, the propellers 66 by being mounted in the frames of Which the ring 71 forms a member, are capable of being turned for setting them relative to the main planes 47, and as desirable means. for controlling the setting of these propellers, I provide those illustrated in Fig. 16 of which the following is a description: At any suit" able point on the car,preferably Within easy reach of thepperator occupying the seat 86, I provide-a horizontally-disposed lever 140 fulcnumed between its ends to the car as indicated at 141. To one end of this lever are connected'cables 142, 143,144 and 145, the cable 142 extending over pulleys 146, 147 and 1448 secured to the ship in any desirable manner, and thence to one of the rings 71 to the The cable 145 extends about pulleys 149 and 150 and connects with the last referred to ring at its lower portion. The cables 143 and 47 by operating the lever 140, for accomplishing a result hereinafter explained.

It will be noted from the foregoing that my invention, as to its more particular feai tures, is based upon the principle underlying a wire-spoke wheelwind that this princlple forms a basis :for not only the main 1 Bil.-E

-rame of the ship, but also for the roem lanes, front, rear and 'side balancing `lanes, 'rudders and surrounding sin lor' the propellers,'and thatbjvI su struction not only is the structure r arl exceedingly rigid,lbut the maximum rigidity commensurate with the Weight of mate- -rial used is aftorded, and minimum head resistance odered in relation to bulli or material used. Furthermore, by providing the endless iframe-member encircling the ship, 'namely the ring 25, and having itconnected with the other parts of the structure as described, the entire structure from one side to the other is braced in sucha manner that `it affords, to the maximum degree, resistance to strains exerted against it in use. Further?. more, th'e ring 25 being of appreciable Weight and forming the marginal element of the framework, operates'toprevent the ship from quickly responding to gusts ofl wind'striking'its planes as the inertia of the ship to be overcome is relativelT great. llt will also be noted that the car, struts 28, outer ring 25 and the Wires connecting these parts together term the main trame-Work ein of the ship and, as hereinbetore stated, pre` sents an exceedingly rigid structure, upon which the main planes, balancing planes and rudders, as Well as the propellers, .are carried, which produces a structure possessing a high degree of'stability.

lonother advantage anforded by a ship constructed on the principle' stated is that or' resisting strains to which it might be subjected in case of careless manipulation, or by accident, causing the ship to strilre the ground at its outer margin. lin such a case the danger of impairment to the ship is minimized as the strain to which it Would be subjected is equalized more or less throughout the structure'instead of exerting concentrated leverage-upon any one part.

The combining in an air-ship of the type stated of propellers Which'are sett'ahle with relation to the main and .balancing planes provided forwardly 'and rearwardly of the propellers is ont'y advantage, in that the head resistance'adorded by the main planes as Well as head 'resistance at both endsoi: the ship may controlled for producing sharp ascent -trom the ground corre'spending- Adescent nihil-e maintained on l avoid' toward their oppo upon in itsnormal conditi n as distinguished from the swirling, eddving currents .air caused by the resistance ci engines, p ones, etc., that are in the nath of su tion i: propellers located behind or between the planes, and thus the propellers are capable' oli gripping the air to the maximum/degree, and their full power is rendered eifective. Furthermore, by locating the pro-- pellers ais-stated, the air displaced by the propellers, when the latter are operating, is not forced against sustaining plane, engine, operator, car, or like obstruction, as is common in structures as hitherto provided, Where the propellers are located in front, and thus the creation of undue head resist ance by the planes and undue backepressure on the propellers is prevented.

vso

another advantage of locating the prov pellers, as stated, in channels between the car and planes el?, is that of causing the air sucked into the propellers to move under such suction-action substantially parallel with the inclined sides of the iront oit the l. ln an air-ship, the combination 'ot f trame-Work formed oit a central member', an endless curvedmember surrounding the cen tral member and spaced therei'rem,-a series of upright struts surroundingsaid central member and located in the space between the latter and said endlessmember and tensioning members connected. with said Vcen*- tral member and radiating therefrom connected with the struts toward their copposite ends and with said endless member to form a Wheel-like structure, and a sustaining plane and .means for driving the ship operatively :Eer the purpose set forth. p

2. ln an airship, .the combination of trame-Work formed ot a central member, a ring surrounding-the centraly member and spaced therefrom, a series or upright struts surrounding said central member and .iocated in the sp; Je l Ween the latter and said'iing and L members connected with said ceng'al omber c "adiatz therefrom and coni ring to forni a vvhe aiming r fed memb need there/trom,

carrier bet rele 1 ss member and fr i iveljv connected in mating therefrom connected with said frame-Work,

rec

said endless member, and a plane and propelling mechanism operatively connected with said frame-work.

4. In an air-ship, the combination of frame-work formed of a central member, an endless curved member surrounding the central member and spaced therefrom, a circular vseries of upright struts surrounding said central member and located in the space between the latter and said endless member and tensioning members connected with the struts toward their opposite ends and with said endless member to form a wheel-structure, and a sustaining plane and means for driving the ship operatively connected with said frame-work, for the purpose set forth. 5.,In an airship, 'the combination of a carrier, a series of struts surrounding the carrier and to certain ones of which the carrier is operatively connected., an endless curved member surrounding said struts, tensioning members operatively connected with the carrier and `radiating therefrom and connected with the struts at their upper and lower ends and at their outer ends with said endless member, sustaining planes for the ship supported on certain of the struts, and means for propelling the ship:v

6. In an air-ship, vthecombination of aframe formed of a central member, upright struts surrounding said member, an endless curved member surrounding said struts `and tensioning members operatively vconnected with said central member and radiating therefrom-and connected with said struts toward their upper and lower ends and with said endless member, a carrier operatively connectedwith said frame, sustaining planes supported on certain of said struts, and pro.

pelling means on the ship, for the purpose set forth.

7. In an air-ship, the combination of a frame formed of a central member, upright struts surrounding said central member, an endless curved member surrounding said struts and tensioning members' connected with said central member and radiating V therefrom and connected with said struts at their upper and lower ends and with said endless member to form a structure of wheel-like form, sustaining planes having their frame-work formed of endless curved members surrounding certain of said struts and tensioning means connected with the endless members of said vsustaining planes and with the upper and lower ends of the respective struts carrying said planes, and means for propelling the ship.

8. In'an air-ship, the combination of atively 'connected with said carrier and radiating therefroml and connected with said struts toward their opposite ends and with said'endless member, said carrier being connected at its opposite ends with certain of said struts, sustaining planes connected with struts at opposite sides ofthe carrier and spaced from the latter to afford channels at opposite sides of the carrier, propellers supported in the spaces between said planes and carrier, and means for driving said propellers.

9. In an air-ship, the combination of a carrier, main sustaining planessupported on the ship at opposite sides of the carrier and spaced therefrom, balancing planes supported on the ship beyond said main planes, propellers supported on the ship in the `spaces between said carrier and main planes,

and means for driving said propellers.

n 10. In an air-ship, the combinationv of frame-work comprising a central member, an endless curved member surrounding said central member and spaced therefrom, struts in the space betweensaid central member and endless member and tensioning members connected with said central member and radiating therefrom and connected with the upper and lower ends of said struts and with said endless member, propeller means on the ship, sustaining planes operatively connected with said frame-work, and rudders secured to certain of said struts at the front and rear of -the ship and extending into the.-

ll. In an air-ship, the combination .of a

carrier supported on the ship,.sustaining pla-nes supported on theship at opposite sides of the carrier and spaced therefrom, propellers supported in the spaces between said carrier and planes, means for driving the propeller-s, and upright rudders pivoted on the ship at the front and rear ends thereof and extending into the path of the currents of air displaced by the propellersfor the purpose set forth.

1Q. Inan air-ship, the combination of a carrier supported on the ship, sustaining planes supported. on the ship at opposite sides of the carrier and spaced therefrom, propellers supported in the spaces between said carrier and planes,imeans for drivingr the propellers, upright rudders pivot-ed on the ship at the front and rear ends thereof and extending into the path of the currents of air displaced by the propellers, and means for simultaneously operating the 'front and rear rudders in opposite directions. for the purpose set forth.

13. In an air-ship, the combination of its frame-work formed with an outer encircling member the inertia of which causes the ship to be slow in responding to vsudden gusts of wind from any and all directions,

sustaining planes supported on ln an air-ship, the combi-,rati

within the contines oit said enoircland spaced apart horizon means for propelling the ship the space between said planes.

oeiier, endless member encirclim c ier and spaced therefrom, rounrliing1 said carrier, tensionin veratireljf connected with said ca *aiding radially there-from and connected with the upper and lower ends ot said struts' l and with said endless member, sustaining planes and means for propellinp',1 the ship, .said carrier being formed of a 'frame-work comprising* spaced frames, cables connected with certain of said struts and connecting saio frames together, and a covering for said carrier, -for the purpose set forth..

l5. an air-ship, the combination ci a carrier,` an endless member surrounding said carrier and spaced therefrom, a series oil'struts inthe space between said carrier and endless member, tensioning members 'operatively connected with said carrier and radietingn therefrom and connectedwith the' nl 3er and lower VendsV of said struts and said endless member, sustaining planes,4 means lfor driving the ship, and cab-les connected with the opposite ends or vsaid carrier and with certain olf said struts,

orfthe purpose set tor-th, 4

lo. ln an air-ship, the combination ot acentral member, an endless member'encir cling"- said central member and spaced there.-'

from, struts surrounding said central rnember, tensioningmembers connected with said central member and radiating therelrom and connected with the upper'and lower ends of said struts and with said endless member, a sustaining plane, propellers for driving the' ship, and wheels yieldingly `mounted on the lower ends of certain of said .struts to extend below the same, for the purpose set forth.`

l?. ln an. air-ship, the combination of its frame ,formed olj a centralmember, an endless currfed member surrounding said central member and spaced therefrom, a series of uprightfstruts in the space between said central member and endless member and tensioning,n members connected with and radiating trom said central member and connected with the upper and lower ends *l ids nd b u spa tensioning i ne carrier s and spacer idese men'ioor,

L? z ,L me spaces between said l. r' and from oropelle means loplanesand carri balancing lanes adjustably supported on the ship in the spaces between.

said 'planes and said endless member, ad'- j'ustable .horizontal rudders supported on the :trame-work at the front and at the rear ot said carrier',and vertical rudders yon the ship, the purpose set forth.

-i i@ JLU. framework "formed .a'centra-l member, an endless curved member surrounding the central member spaced therefrom., a seri-es hi said endless ln an air-ship, the combination of el upright struts surrounding' said central mem. er and located in the space between the latter and said endless member, vtensioning" members connected with said central member 4radiating1 therefrom and connected v""ith the strnts toward their upperand lower and with said endless member and tensiomng` members connecting,1 sail struts together, and sustaining; plane and propelling means on the ship, for purpose set forth. o

20. ln an air-ship, the combination of a carrier, an endless member surrounding said carrier and spaced therefrom, afseries of struts in thespace'between said carrier and endless' member, tensioning members-operatively connected with said carrier and radiating therefrom and connected with the upper andlower ends of said struts and with sain endless member, sustaining planes,

`means for 'driving the ship, 'cables con-v nected with the opposite ends of said car- .rler and withicertain of said struts, and

means lor placing said cables under ten l' sion, for the purpose set torth.

21. ln an air-ship, the combination 'of framework formed ot acentral member, an

ries 'et upright struts. surrounding said -ce tral mei ber andlocated inthe space'be:

endless curved member vsurrounding the central member and lspaced therefrom, a seits frame, of a carrier connected at its oppo pelling means onthe ship, for the purpose set forth.

22. In an air-ship, the combination of frame-work formed of a central member,

an endless curved membersurrounding' the central member and spaced.: therefrom, a

series of upright struts surrounding said centralv member and located in the space between the latter and said endless member, tensioning members connected with said central member andradiating therefromV and connected with the struts toward their upper and lower ends and with said endless member, and supplementary tensioningmembers connected with said struts and..

frame-work formed bf spaced frames, ca' bits` extending .lengthwise of th'e carrier.

connecting the frames thereof together and secured at their ends to the frameof the ship, diagonal tensioning members connecting together adjacent frames at diagonallyopposed portions thereof,'and a covering for said carrier. i

24. In an air-ship', the combination wlth site ends with said frame and formed of a frame-work comprising..fspacedl frames, ca-

blesextending lengthwise of the carrier and.

connecting said frames together and at the ends of which the carrier is supported on the frame of the ship and diagonal tensioning membersV locatedv at the sides, top and bottom oft'he cairi'erv and connecting together. the frames of said carrier at diagonally opposed portions thereof, and a covering for the frame-work of the carrier, for the purpose set forth.

25. A frame for an air-ship comprising a central member, an endless curved member surrounding said central member and spaced therefrom andformed of circumferential end-wise abutting sections. and means for Vcoupling said sections together, a series of upright struts located in the space between said central'member and said endless member, and tensioning members connected with and radiating from ,said central member and connected with the upper and lower ends of said struts 'and `with said endless member, for the purpose set forth.

26. In an air-ship, the combination with its frame-work, of horizontally-,disposed planes pivoted at the front and rear of the ship and means for operating said planes comprising a pair of levers pivotally supported between their ends, cables connectedv with one of said levers and with one efsaid planes, cables connected with the'other .of said levers and with the other of said planes,

and a connector carried by one ofsaid levers 'at one side of its fulcrum and connectible with the other of said levers at either side of .its fulcrum, for the purpose set forth.

27. In an air-ship, the combination of its frame, balancing planes pivoted at the sides of the frame, and means for operating said planes comprising a pair of oppositely eX- tending levers pivotally supported on the ship with their pivots in alinement,` cables connected with said planes and with said levers, and means for releasablv connecting said levers together to operate as a unit, for the purpose set forth.

28. In an' ainship, the combination of propeller means for driving the ship, rudders arranged at the front and rear of the ship, and means for operating said rudders independently7 of'each other or simultaneously in the same or opposite directions,

tween their ends, separate cables connected with said levers and with said rudders, and adjustable means for connecting said levers together to cause the latter to operate in the same or opposite directions as desired.

29. In an air-ship, the combination of a frame, a carrier on said frame, planes'on said frame at opposite sides of said carrier and spaced therefrom, and braces between said planes and carrier each formed of an endless curved member, a `central member forming a propeller-seat, and a series oftensioning members arranged at opposite sides of said curved member, said tensioning. membersfbeing connected with said central 'member and with said curvedl member to form a wheel-like structure.l

EDWINy S. TIMMONS.

In presence of- A. U. THoRmN, R. A.. SGHAEFER.

85.1 comprising a pair of levers fulcrumed bei 

